Raj Mutharasan
Drexel University, USA
Title: Biosensors for genes, pathogens, parasites, biomarkers and toxins
Biography
Biography: Raj Mutharasan
Abstract
The cantilever sensors are self-excited devices that exhibit high-order modes near ~0.1-1 MHz and show sub-femtogram sensitivity. One significant property is that nonspecific binding is low or absent due to the surface being under constant out of plane oscillation. Several examples of practical importance (E. coli O157:H7, biomarkers, waterborne parasites, food and water toxins, and B. anthracis) will be illustrated using both antibody-based sensors and specific gene sequence as a molecular identifier without an amplification step. We have developed strategies that reduce error rate at ultralow concentration and also methods that enable direct calibration and quantification. The methods, we have developed allow for eliminating false negatives, a critical performance requirement in bioterrorism, medical, environmental and food safety applications.